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ENDA KENNY WILL not commit to holding a referendum on the 8th Amendment if Fine Gael is re-elected, saying he does not favour abortion on demand.
The Taoiseach said he has no intention of abolishing the controversial constitutional amendment, which enshrines the equal right to life of the mother and the unborn, without considering what would replace it.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Fine Gael think-in in Adare, Co Limerick today, Kenny told the media:
In respect of the 8th Amendment, I do not favour abortion on demand and I have no intention of abolishing the 8th Amendment without considering what it might be that might replace it.
“And that means, more than any other sensitive issue, I am quite prepared to listen to people who have contributions to make in that regard.
But believe me, believe me, to commit to abolishing the 8th Amendment without consideration of what you might do is not on my radar.
His position, and that of Fine Gael, contrasts with coalition partners Labour which has pledged to include a commitment to hold a referendum on the 8th Amendment in its next manifesto.
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In June, a TheJournal.ie survey found many Fine Gael TDs and Senators unwilling say whether or not they favour repeal of the 8th Amendment.
Those that did respond are divided with Dublin-based TDs and Senators including Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South), Mary Mitchell-O’Connor (Dún Laoghaire) and Catherine Noone (Dublin West) all favouring repeal.
Former justice minister Alan Shatter has also said he favours repeal as does Cork South-Central TD and health committee chairman Jerry Buttimer.
The party’s election candidate in Dublin Bay South, councillor Kate O’Connell, recently made headlines when she called for abortion on demand up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Opposition to repeal largely comes from rural TDs and Senators in Fine Gael. Kenny said today that he is not committing to any referendum.
Asked if Fine Gael would adopt a position in its election manifesto, Kenny said the party would “consider this matter very carefully along with a number of other sensitive issues as well”.
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Probably the most fascinating serial killer in modern times. I must refamiliarise myself with this.. one wonders did he ever leave anything that today can be tested for DNA. With such amazing advances and how they nailed the EAR aka originally night stalker they (the authorities) don’t even need the suspects own DNA to get results. Hope one day we know for sure.
@William Cecil: Had he been caught he obviously wouldn’t hold the fascination he does today especially give the low number of victims attributed to him in relation to those serial killers who came after him. I think the movie established him in the modern public’s mind. He’d been pretty much forgotten before then. The ones I find horribly fascinating are Edmund Kemper, Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy all of whom had very high I.Q.’s but most definitely had something awry personality wise and were driven by a compulsion to rape and kill. Ted Kaczynski had an even higher I.Q. but was driven by a different compulsion. These are just the ones that get the most publicity. There have been many with even more gruesome crimes to their name before and since those mentioned.
@William Tallon: lol and after all the resources put into tracking the unibomber it was his brother who figured out it was ted.
I find those with exceptionally high IQ have very low EQ and lack social skills. But very interesting how it manifests Ted Bundy had charm but no empathy, most people are balanced but when you have have high something you lose other traits
@William Cecil: I think they got at least a partial profile from saliva on the back of postage stamps used to mail his letters. But they didn’t go very far with it. It’s more than 50 years after all…
That is of course assumes it’s him who mailed the letters…
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